How to stop gout pain at night: 5 essential tips

Gout flares up and gets worse at night. When you’re getting ready for bed, intense pain in your big toe can strike suddenly and make you uncomfortable. The severity often disrupts sleep, as even a light touch can feel unbearable.

Lack of rest only compounds the issue, as sleep is critical for the body’s healing process. This highlights the importance of effectively addressing nighttime gout pain. Knowing how to stop gout pain at night can reduce symptoms and allow your body some much-needed rest.

1. Why does gout hurt more at night?

Gout is a complex type of arthritis that can impact anyone. It typically involves abrupt, intense pain, swelling, redness, and sensitivity in joints, especially the big toe.  

Gout attacks often strike unexpectedly, frequently disturbing sleep with a burning sensation in the big toe. The joint becomes inflamed, extremely tender, and so sensitive that even the pressure of a bedsheet can feel unbearable.

Before diving into how to stop gout pain at night, it’s important to understand why this pain becomes more intense during the evening hours. There are a few reasons for hurting more at night:

Hormones and circadian rhythm

Your body’s hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day to align with your circadian rhythm. During gout flare-ups, increased cortisol can heighten pain perception and disrupt sleep, because it reduces inflammation. Similarly, imbalances in estrogen and progesterone may raise uric acid levels, worsening pain and interfering with rest.

Hormonal changes also regulate body temperature when you fall asleep. A lower body temperature encourages uric acid buildup in the joints, which can exacerbate gout symptoms. Additionally, slower breathing during sleep increases carbon dioxide in the blood, leading to higher acidity and elevated uric acid levels.

Gout is worse at night because of hormones and circadian rhythm changes

Body positioning

How you position yourself during sleep can influence the pressure on your joints. For instance, lying on the side with a gout-affected foot can intensify discomfort by adding strain to the hip and leg, worsening the pain.

Fewer distractions

Daily distractions often make pain less noticeable during the day. At night, the absence of such distractions can make the pain feel more intense. Frequent position changes to alleviate discomfort may further disrupt sleep, heightening awareness of the pain.

2. How to stop gout pain at night

Here are some tips to help make your gout stop paining at night:

Raise the affected joint

Raising the affected joint is an essential method to stop gout pain at night. If your big toe or ankle is inflamed, use pillows to raise your foot above the level of your heart. This reduces swelling and promotes better blood circulation, which can help minimize pain.

Elevating the joint helps drain excess fluid, reduces pressure on the area, and offers relief from pain and inflammation.

Drink plenty of water

Dehydration can worsen gout symptoms, so staying hydrated is key to managing discomfort. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps flush excess uric acid from your blood, which is an effective step in how to stop gout pain at night and prevent painful flare-ups.

Drinking plenty of water is an effective way when you learn how to stop gout pain at night

Apply ice packs

Using an ice pack on the affected joint is another effective way to stop gout pain at night. Wrap an ice pack in a thin towel and apply it to the painful area for 15-20 minutes before bedtime. Repeat to help numb the pain and reduce swelling.

Ice therapy helps reduce inflammation and numbs the area which makes it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep. Therefore, if you want to know how to sleep with gout pain, the answer is by applying ice packs on the affected joint.

Learn more: 

• Is gout hereditary? Exploring the genetic factors

• Tophi gout removal: Causes, treatment, and aftercare

Take medicine you have on hand

Using over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen (Alev), and ibuprofen (Advil) may ease pain at night by minimizing joint inflammation that causes discomfort.

Limit purine-rich foods in the evening

Limiting purine-rich foods in the evening is important when you are learning how to stop gout pain at night. Purines are compounds found in certain foods that the body breaks down into uric acid. Reducing your intake of purine-rich foods can prevent uric acid buildup and help stop gout pain.

• Foods to avoid: Red meat, organ meats, shellfish, and alcohol (especially beer).
• Better options: Opt for a light, low-purine dinner with lean proteins like chicken or plant-based options like tofu, alongside vegetables.

You need to avoid purine-rich foods such as red meat, shellfish, alcohol, etc

3. Preventing gout flare-ups: Long-term strategies

Knowing how to stop gout pain at night is essential, but it’s also crucial to focus on prevention. Here are some long-term strategies to keep gout at bay:

Maintain a healthy weight

Excess weight increases uric acid levels, putting you at a higher risk for gout. Losing weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.

Tip: You should aim for gradual weight loss because rapid weight loss can actually trigger a gout flare.

Stay active with low-impact exercises

Engaging in low-impact exercises, like walking, swimming, or yoga, can improve joint health without putting extra pressure on sensitive areas. Physical activity promotes better circulation and helps your body process uric acid more efficiently.

Low-impact exercises like walking and yoga improve joint health effectively

Monitor your uric acid levels

Regular blood tests to monitor uric acid levels can help you stay proactive. Your doctor can adjust your treatment plan and “how to stop gout pain at night” based on these readings to prevent future nighttime pain.

4. Final thoughts

Understanding how to stop gout pain at night involves addressing symptoms promptly and taking proactive steps. Raising the joint, applying ice, drinking plenty of water, and using medications can offer quick relief.  

For lasting results, adopting healthy lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the frequency of nighttime gout attacks. Gout doesn’t have to be a nuisance in your life - read more Zextrasure’ article for effective treatment and management.